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fatrowbridge
super member
Reged: 06/11/06
Posts: 185
Loc: UpState South Carolina
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I think in the beginning it is more important to find the objects (galaxies in your case), observe them for a while, and then determine what eyepiece upgrade you want to make.
You have a 5 mm exit pupil @ 51x and 1 degree true field and 2.5 mm exit pupil @ 102x and 0.5 degree true field with your plossls. Those should be great for galaxy hunting.
Do you have a Telrad? A Telrad + RACI finder (Right Angle Correct Image Finder; pretty sure it came with your scope) , + something like the Sky and Telescope Pocket Altas (~$20) will really help you to find things.
The Telrad will allow getting close (4 degree 1x view), the RACI will show stars in the same orientation as the Sky Chart (with ~ 5 degree FOV). You can then zero in (actually you can "sweep" the area to find most Messiers).
A good book to buy for Telrad use is the "Year Round Messier Marathon" a nice guide to the sky, your scope, and finding things.
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Alex
12" GSO DOB; Flocked and mechanically enhanced
OWL Refigured Primary; Protostar Secondary
Paracorr
20mmNT5; GSO 2" 2X ED Barlow
15mm Panoptic; Tele Vue 1 1/4" 2x Barlow
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patrick77
member
Reged: 09/15/09
Posts: 45
Loc: Memphis Tn area
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ebusinesstutor where do you live and what scope are you useing?!! Is light polution a problem for you??
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New to this hobby, really enjoy looking at the stars!!
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ebusinesstutor
professor emeritus
Reged: 07/01/09
Posts: 637
Loc: Nanaimo, BC, Canada
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Quote:
ebusinesstutor where do you live and what scope are you useing?!! Is light polution a problem for you??
I live in Nanaimo. It is on Vancouver Island, British Coumbia, Canada. A city of about 80,000 people. So I do have substantial light pollution but not as bad as a major city like New York or Los Angeles.
I primarily use an 8" dobsonian.
Although I have only been at this a few months, I am finding that I can only tell what eyepieces and other equipment I need AFTER spending a lot of time with my scope and eyepieces.
For example, I was looking at the Pleiades a while ago and I noticed that I couldn't get them all in my 24mm setting on my zoom. They actually looked better in my 9x10 finder. So I ordered a lower power eyepiece.
I noticed that the moon was often too bright to view, so I asked people here on CN what filter they suggested and, on their advice, I bought a polarizing filter.
But if I had jumped in ordering a bunch of eyepieces, filters etc. before viewing, I would have spent a lot of money without necessarily getting what works for MY viewing.
Everyone's needs and interests are different.
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Garland Coulson
Orion XT8i Dob
Baader Hyperion 8-24mm Click Zoom & Siebert Observatory 36mm
SkyWatcher Observing Chair
Webmaster, Nanaimo Astronomy Society
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Feidb
sage
Reged: 10/09/09
Posts: 223
Loc: Nevada
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I've identified over 800 galaxies with either a 32mm war surplus Edmund Scientific eyepiece, stopped down to 1 1/4", or when I got my LightBridge, a 2" Orion Q-70 26mm, which is essentially the same as the Meade QX 26mm. To get more minute details, I sometimes throw in a Barlow. However, so much depends on sky conditions, and how bad the skyglow is. I've seen many galaxies with an 8" f/9.44 and a .965" 20mm Kellner eyepiece, so you don't have to go super expensive.
Depending on which way you want to go, those Baader Hyperions seem to be pretty good. I've tried them and like them except I have to use a 1 1/4" adapter because of the built-in Barlows that don't allow me enough focuser travel. However, each scope is different. You have a QX which is fine to see many many galaxies.
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Present gear:
16" Meade LightBridge
Meade 50mm straight through-finder
Lumicon green laser pointer
Orion Q-70 26mm, 32mm, and 38mm
Parks 2X 2" Barlow
Hyperion 17mm, 8mm
1 1/4" 18mm Russell Optics Bertele
1 1/4" 12.5mm and 6mm Coulter Optical Orthoscopics
1 1/4" X 2" 32mm Edmund Scientific war surplus Erfle
Tirion star atlas (white stars, black background) hand-laminated
Megastar
And a partridge in a pear tree
To nudge or not to nudge, that is the question
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patrick77
member
Reged: 09/15/09
Posts: 45
Loc: Memphis Tn area
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Thanks for the info!! I just need more time and better sky conditions!! I have been looking from my area just outside memphis TN and the humidity levels have been 80% or higher and I think that is part of the problem. Also the moon was at 1/2 full stage and that doesnt help!! I just dont have enough experience so I second guess my self. Im purchasing a 36mm QX eyepiece so I hope that helps!! I just worry that were I live I just dont have a good chance to see much!!
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New to this hobby, really enjoy looking at the stars!!
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